Fabricated resilient bodies



July 15, 1958 c. w. cLAUsoN 2,842,778

FABMCATED RESILIENT BODIES Filed May 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. 1

HNI/Emol@ ATTORNEY July '15, 1958 c w. CLAUSON FABRICATED RESILIENT BODIES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1955 FIG.6

l INVAENTOR.

ATTORNEY C. W. CLAUSON FABRICATED RESILIENT BODIES Jlully l5, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 y Filed May 24, 1955 Flea Usl

FIG. 9

FIG. IO

INVENTOR. ww

ATTORNEY United States Patent rAnnrcAran nasrLmNr nomas Clas William Clauson, Dover, Mass., assigner of one-half to Joseph D. Ramsey, Boston, Mass.

Application May 24, i955, Serial No.4510,694 3 Claims. (Cl. 5-239) This invention relates to fabricated resilient structures and, more particularly, to an arrangement of mechanical elements organized to form a novel spring construction for use as a bed spring as well as certain 'other forms of cushioning devices.

In the art of bed spring construction especially, a great many structures of resilient nature have been proposed in an effort to combine in a single supporting medium a proper degree of body weight support and socalled firmness with a satisfactory measure of uniform yieldability or cushioning action. Difficulty is present in providing for such a combination of resiliency characteristics in a structure of the physical size customary in bed springs for the reason that, as body weight is applied to any of these conventional structures, there tends to be a localized yielding of the bed spring structure and its overlying mattress or other covering. At the points of maximum yielding produced by body weight, there may develop a crater-like condition such that the depressed area is necessarily lower than the level of the two adjacent sides of the bed spring and, likewise, the crater-like area may also be below the level of the head and foot sections of the bed spring or mattress supported upon it. None of the devices proposed in the art up to the present time, so far as I am aware, has succeeded in providing a means of avoiding both of these conditions and, on the contrary, are, to a large degree, directed to selectively accentuating these crater-like areas of yieldability to conform to -body contour.

The present invention aims to deal with the general problem indicated and to provide a unique fabricated resilient body with aview especially to devising a spring structure particularly suitable for useas a bed spring in which special resiliency features are incorporated so as to imparta unique load distributing characteristic to the spring structure as a whole. It is also an object of the invention to provide a structural arrangement in which load distribution may, if desired, 'be selectively controlled so as to take place uniformly along lines of direction extending between two sides of a bed spring member whereby a load applied to any given point along one edge of the bed spring will produce a uniform lowering of that particular section of the bed spring contacted all the way across to the oppo-site edge of the frame.

Another object is to provide a structural arrangement in which, if desired, distribution of a localized load may take place substantially uniformly over an entire bed spring supporting area whereby a load applied at any given point anywhere on the bed spring supporting area will produce a uniform lowering or yielding of the entire supporting frame section of the bed spring.

It is still further an object of the invention to devise a multipiece bed spring construction which can be cheaply made and assembled; which includes adjustable resiliency characteristics; and whose mechanical ycomponents are replaceableV and are so arranged with respect to one an- '2,842,778 Patented July 15, 1958 ICC enclosed by the spring structure, either electrically or otherwise.

It is also a companion objective to devise a special form of cushioning mattress which is designed to function with a uniform load distributing type of box spring and which may itself be heated internally or externally. These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the resilient spring structure of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the member shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the spring structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig'. 4 is an enlarged view showing the spring structure in a fully extended position of adjustment;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 showing the spring structure in another position of compression;

Fig. 6 is a plan view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail cross-section taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. l;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of a modified form of' spring structure of the invention;

Fig. 9 is another elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 8 but viewed from the side thereof; and

Fig. l0 is a diagrammatic view partly in cross-section showing the spring structure of the invention used as a cushioning platform in combination with a runway and pivoted apron apparatus.

With the above-noted objectives in mind, I have discovered that I may provide a satisfactorily workable spring structure by combining a fabricated load distributing frame with a suitable base structure. I have further devised, as a basic component of the load distributing frame, a special unit linkage. A plurality of these linkage components are combined in an integrated whole and each unit linkage is made up of a pair of cooperating linkages which are connected between pairs of rigid stretcher elements and `by means of which parallel motion displacement of load forces in a vertical direction may be uniformly carried out. With the structure described, uniform load distribution may, I lind, be accomplished between two sides of the spring structure or, if desired, over the entire supporting area of the bed spring. Each unit linkage is further constructed and arranged in a special manner, so devised as to brace the linkage and attached stretchers against lateral displacement, thus limiting yieldother asto retain therein means for heating Athe area .'1

ability characteristics of the uppermost stretcher to movement in a vertical direction only.

I have illustrated, in the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of a ibed spring and this particular adaptation of the invention will be discussed in detail throughout the specification, but it should be understood that this is not done in any limiting sense and the invention may take other forms, as hereinafter noted.

The basic component of the bed spring structure, as noted above 'and shown in detail in Figs. l-lO, comprises a pair of cooperating linkages connected between an upper rigid stretcher element and a lower rigid stretcher element. These stretchers are located one above another in vertically spaced alignment. A series of the linkage and stretcher units are arranged one beside another and are connected together by suitable retaining means so that the lower stretchers constitute, in general, a stationary base B and the upper stretchers constitute, generally, a load distributing frame F which is resiliently mounted above the base B, as indicated in Figs. l-3.

In the arrangement of the stretchers shown in Figs. l-7, the opposite ends of the upper stretchers shown therein dene two side edges of the bed spring. Likewise, the upper stretchers occurring at the extreme right and left edges of the frame, as shown in Fig. l, deiine the head and foot of the bed spring. The spring arrangement of Figs. l-7 is illustrative of means for providing for load distribution occurring between two side edges only of a bed spring, while the spring arrangement in Figs. 8-10 is illustrative of means for providing for load distribution occurring uniformly all over the spring7 supporting area, regardless of the point of application of the load force or its magnitude.

Referring more in detail to Figs. 1-7, upper stretchers are indicated by letters a, a1, a2, a3, etc., and lower stretcher elements are denoted by letters b, b1, b2, b3, etc., as noted most clearly in Fig. 1. Each of these several stretcher elements consist of rigid elongated members of preferably rectangular cross-section and they may be comprised of a light rigid material, such as aluminum, plastic, wood and the like.

As illustrative of one suitable means of connecting the stretcher elements together, there may be employed for the stretchers a, a1, a2, etc., flexible wire cables, such as the cables 2 and 3 and, similarly, for the stretchers b', b1, b2, b3, etc., rigid cables 4 and S, which are passed through openings formed in each of the several stretchers and carry spacer elements 6. In the case of the base stretchers, there may also be provided reinforcing rods 6 to stiften the base. In the case of the upper stretchers, there may be provided alternate stretcher elements 7 which have no linkages which are of the same Width as the spacing elements 6 and which are supported entirely by cables 2 and 3. The several cables may be provided with threaded end portions to receive nuts 'as 8 and 10, or they may be secured in various other ways to connect the stretchers together. It may also be desired to locate the first two or three stretchers at the opposite end of the base closely adjacent to one another without any spacers, as shown in the drawings.

In accordance with the invention, I further provide, with each of the linkage and stretcher units, spring means for maintaining the upper stretcher elements in a resiliently supported position, as shown in Figs. l, 2 and 3, and on an enlarged scale in Figs. 4, and 7. These springs preferably may consist of coiled wire springs as s, s1, s2, s3, and are designed to be replaceable. To detach'ably receive these springs, I have provided spring recesses 12 in the lower stretchers b, b2, b2, b3 and recesses 12 in the upper stretchers a, a1, a2, a3, etc. This permits the springs to be snapped in place' and removed at will. For each linkage unit, I may employ any desired number of springs. Thus, in the linkage units indicated in Figs. l-7, three of the springs s may be used in the spaced relationship shown.

Considering now in detail the two cooperating linkages which connect each pair of stretchers together, attention is directed to Figs. 4-6 wherein upper and lower stretchers a4 and b4 are `shown connected together by the linkages and illustrated in several positions of vertical adjustment. The two cooperating linkages include a parallel motion linkage and a pivoting brace linkage. The parallel motion linkage connects upper and lower stretchers along respective side edges of these stretcher elements (Fig. 6). The diagonal brace linkage connects the upper and lower stretchers along respective opposite side edges of the stretcher elements (Fig. 6). The parallel motion linkage, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, includes as its principal component a parallel motion bar 14, while the pivoting brace linkage, similarly shown in Figs. 4 and 5, includes as its principal component, a diagonal brace bar 16 which acts to let the parallel motion bar move up and down but prevents movement in any other direction.

In the parallel motion linkage, the parallel motion bar 14 is supported at its opposite ends on pivots 14a and Mb. Also carried on these pivots 14a and 14b are short links 13 and 15, 17 and 18. Link 15 is pivotally mounted on a pin 19 transversely disposed through stretcher a4, and link 13 is similarly mounted on a pin 26a in stretcher b4. Pin 24 and pin 28a similarly support links 17 and 18 at the other end of the parallel motion bar 14.

In the diagonal brace linkage, bar 16 is pivotally attached to the upper stretcher by the pin 24 and is further pivotally supported by two arms 26 and 28 on the pins 26a and 28a. Arm 28 is attached to the middle of brace 16 by a pivot pin 30 and arm 26 is attached to the end of brace 16 by a pivot pin 32. The pivot point 3) and the two pivot points for the parallel motion occur in approximately the same horizontal plane.

There is thus achieved a counterbalancing action in which the thrust of the respective linkages oppose one another and a substantial bracing action is at all times provided for at any given point of vertical adjustment of the upper stretcher a4 with respect to the base stretcher b4. It is pointed out that the action of the coiled springs s normally tends to force the upper stretcher away from the lower stretcher and, therefore, it is necessary to limit the spacing of these two stretchers to maintain the springs in compression. For this purpose, I have further included locking means in both sets of link members which prevent upward displacement of the stretcher a4 beyond a predetermined point. The locking means in the case of the parallel motion bar linkage consists of a hooked end piece formed at the extremity of the short link 13 and denoted by the numeral 13. This hooked end is shaped to overlie and abut against an immediately adpacent surface edge of the short bar 15, as best shown in Fig. 6, and limits rotative movement of short bar 15'. Similarly, the short link 17 is formed with a hooked end 17 which bears against the short link 18, as best shown in Fig. 6, and limits rotative movement of short link 18. In the diagonal brace linkage, the short link 26 is formed with a hooked end 26 which is adapted to bear against and lock with the lower end of the diagonal bar 16, as shown in Fig. 4, and also in Fig. 6, and limits rotative movement of the diagonal bar 16 about the pivot 32.

In operation, each linkage and stretcher unit of the bed spring is held by the springs s and locking ends described in a normally extended position, such as that shown in Fig. 4. When an upper stretcher, as for example the stretcher a4 or any number of adjacent stretchers, is subjected to a vertically downwardly directed force, the stretcher a4 moves downwardly towards the stretcher b4 into a position such as that shown in Fig. 5. As this occurs, the short links 13, 15, 17 and 1S of the parallel bar linkage pivot on their respective pivot pins 26a, 19, 24 and 28a and the parallel motion bar 14 moves from left to right, as viewed in Fig. 4, and simultaneously moves downwardly toward the lower stretcher, both the upper stretcher and bar 14 being maintained in a constantly parallel relationship with the bottom stretcher 4b at all times.

During movement of the parallel bar linkage, the diagonal brace linkage pivots on the pivot pins 24, 28a, 30, 32 and 26a with the short arm 26 and the short arm 28 pivoting in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, which is opposite in direction to the rotation of the short links of the parallel bar linkage, and the diagonal bar 16 moves downwardly and tends to approach a position of parallelism with the bottom stretcher b4. The important action of the diagonal brace bar 16 is to prevent any displacement of the parallel motion linkage which would produce a change in the relative position of alignment of the stretcher a4 with the stretcher b4. This action insures that these two stretchers can only move toward and awaymfrom one another in a"ver tical position of alignment. Thus, eachV of the upper stretchers, being lbraced against displacement in any direction except in a vertical direction and being constrained to move only in parallel relationship, may take a load at any point along its upper surface and transmit this load uniformly over the whole length of the stretcher so that one end of the stretcher will move downwardly the same distance as the opposite end, regardless of where the load force is applied.

The effect of this uniform load distribution, when ap-' plied to a plurality of linkage and stretcher units cornbined in the form of a bed spring structure, as described, is to provide for body weight which may be exerted at one side of the spring structure causing the same amount of depression of the spring structure all the way across the width of the bed spring. In its practical application aspects, therefore, it will readily be seen that, assuming two different body weights are exerted simultaneously at two different points, there will be no crater-like depression from the heavier body weight and, on the contrary, the same yielding or displacement will take place all the way across the bed spring from one side to the other, representing the combined load forces'acting as a single force and in parallelism.

It may be desired to further employ this method of parallel motion displacement with a selective coil spring assembly in which springs of varying stiffness may be used. For example, it may be desired to provide relatively stiffer coiled springs at the middle of the bed spring structure and relatively more flexible springs at the head and foot sections of the bed spring. The replaceability feature of the spring and socket arrangement described is particularly useful in thus varying the stiffness of the springs in a selective manner and for meeting the particular requirements of different individuals or, possibly, in carrying medical advice and prescription.

In Figs. 8 and 9, load distribution in all directions in a bed spring may be accomplished, as noted above. In this arrangement, a base B and frame F are employed of the same construction already described, but the base B may have stretchers t solidly supported on transverse base members M, M located at either end of the base. For this purpose, the outside stretchers t may be recessed, as shown in Fig. S, to iit over these members M and M', while the inside stretchers as rtl, r2, r3, etc.,

may have their ends resting thereon, as noted in Fig. 9.

In the case of the frame F, stretchers u, ul, u2, U3,

etc., have their ends fastened to rigid cross pieces as P and P and may have intervening stretchers as n4, H5,

etc. These several cross pieces take the place of the flexible connecting cables of the stretcher shown in Figs. 1-7, and it will be evident that they act to impart overall stiiness in the plane of the base and of the frame.

In this form of the invention, the respective upper and lower stretchers are resiliently connected together by the same type of parallel motion bars le aready described, as well as the same diagonal bars 16. Likewise, coil springs as s are mounted in the manner earlier specified. However, in addition to these linkages, I further provide two more sets of parallel motion linkages of which one is shown in Fig. 9. As noted therein, the linkage includes a parallel bar Si) pivotally supported on short links 52, 54, 56 and 58. The short links 52 and 58 are pivotally secured to rigid cross piece P' as understood, while the short links 54 and 56 are pivotally secured to cross piece M. The same parallel bar structure is repeated at the opposite end of the frame F with the only difference that the direction of rotation of the short links corresponding to links S2, e, S6, 58 is reversed so as to cause the parallel bar component of the opposite linkage to move in an opposite direction when it is displaced vertically downwardly.

In the operation of this form of bed spring, assume a load is applied at any point on any one of the upper stretchers. Immediately, the load forces will be distributed throughout the linkages and will cause the entire ligure F to move downwardly in parallel relationship to the rbase at all points throughout its -supporting area, based on the cooperating linkage functioning already described.

It will be observed that, in this form of the invention, the parallel motion is achieved in two dimensions by one set of parallel motion bars acting on one direction while a second set of parallel motion bars act in a direction substantially at right angles thereto, and this automatically prevents any tipping or localized yielding throughout the frame F.

In Fig. l0, I have further illustrated the invention embodied in the form of a mechanical cushioning device which may be built on a much larger Vscale and equipped with much heavier types of springs, but making use of the same 'base linkage components, for constituting an emergency landing platform for a plane whose landing gear has jammed. Arrow W indicates a parallel motion linkage K mounted in a well 60. Along one side of the well opening may be mounted an apron 62 which is pivoted to yield with the platform 64 of the linkage K when suddenly subjected to impact weight of a plane landing.

Y As the platform drops, the apron may follow the platform and constitute an extension runway, running along an inclined plane over which the plane may pass as it is being braked.

In connection with the spring stretchers now described, I may, in addition, desir-e to employ auxiliary components. For example, I may provide heating means located internally of the structure as exemplified by the heating element shown in Fig. 6. The heating meansimay also take the form of tubular conduits carrying a heating 4liuid and `it may be desired to employ the conduits for other purposes, as conducting iluid bodies such as cooling uids, chemical reagents and the like. It is contemplated that the` bed spring structure may, although not necessarily so, be covered with a relatively thinner form of mattress than that heretofore employed yand that various fasten-ing means may be provided to attach the mattress to the frame. In such case, the thin mattress may `be equipped with special heating means or other appliances.

From the foregoing description, it will oe evident that I have provided a unique spring structure and related components .particularly suited for use as a bed spring and also applicable in various other elds. A unit type construction is provided which can be rapidly and cheaply manufactured and assembled and which is capable of furnishing uniform durability `over extended periods.

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that various other forms and modifications may be resorted to in keeping with the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. An improved bed spring construction comprising a base formed of a plurality of spaced-apart rigid stretchers secured in xed relationship to one another, a support section located above the base in spaced relation thereto and comprising a plurality of rigid stretcher elements occuring in vertical alignment with the said stretcher elements of the base, spring means for resiliently maintaining'the stretcher elements of the support section in spaced relation to the stretcher elements of the base, cooperating pivoted linkages arranged at opposite sides of the spring elements and connecting respective pairs of upper and lower aligned stretchers, and the said cooperating pivoted linkages occurring in pairs, each pair including a parallel motion bar having its opposite extremities pivotally connected to two pairs of angularly disposed arms extending between upper and lower stretchers, each of said linkages further including a diagonal bar and two angularly disposed arms for guiding said diagonal bar in-l to a position approaching parallelism with respect to the said parallel bar when the spring elements are compressed and the upper and lower stretchers are brought into close proximity to one anoth-er.

2. An improved bed spring construction comprising a base formed of a plurality of spaced-apart rigid stretchers secured in fixed relationship to one another, a support section located above the base in spaced relation thereto and comprising a plurality of rigid stretcher elements occurring in vertical alignment with the said stretcher elements of the base, spring means for resiliently maintaining the stretcher elements of the support section in spaced relation to the stretcher elements of the base, cooperating pivoted linkages arranged at opposite sides of the spring elments and connecting respective pairs of upper and lower aligned stretchers, and each pivoted cooperating linkage occurring in pairs for each pair of upper and lower stretchers, each of said pairs of linkages including a parallel bar linkage occurring between `the upper and lower stretchers at one side thereof and a diagonal brace linkage connected between upper and lower structures at an opposite side thereof, said parallel bar linkage consisting of a parallel bar element and pivoted angularly disposed links attached to respective upper and lower stretchers for raising and lowering the parallel bar element in parallel relation to the bottom stretcher when a compressive force is exerted on an upper stretcher at `any point thereon, stop means for limiting movement of the pivoted angularly disposed links in one position, said diagonal brace linkage including a diagonal bar mem'ber extending between the upper and lower stretchers and having its upper end pivotally connected to the upper stretcher, a second link pivotally connected to a lower stretcher at one end and connected to the diagonal bar link at a point intermediate its extremities and a third link pivotally mounted in a lower stretcher and having its upper end pivotally connected to the diagonal brace 3. A structure as defined in claim 2 in which the axes of pivoting of upper and lower pivoted portions of respective links of the said pair lie in approximately the same vertical planes.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 68,912 Stickney Sept. 17, 1867 135,965 Boesen et al. Feb. 18, 1873 198,335 Bartlett Dec.' 18, 1877 `1,208,094 `Chenavlt Dec. 12, 1916 2,280,912 Hopkes Apr.V 2S, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 231,613 Germany Feb. 27, 1911 

